News and events - 6/2/25

  • Posted June 2, 2025
Weekly update from Principal Paolino

Hello Families!

Hopefully everyone had a relaxing weekend despite the cold and rainy weather! It is hard to believe we have entered the month of June, and there are only four weeks of school remaining. This is a very busy but enjoyable time of year, and the remaining school days will move quickly.

Our primary goals for this week will be the continuation of the Spring NWEA reading assessments and the administration of the Checkpoint A foreign language exam to our eighth-grade students. Beginning this Thursday, we will be administering the Spring NWEA math assessments.  

This week, we will host fifth-graders from Albany elementary schools that will “feed” into Hackett in September: Arbor Hill Elementary, the Dual Language Program, New Scotland Elementary and Sheridan Preparatory Academy. During their two-hour visit, students will be given a tour of the building and a presentation by guidance counselors and building administrators. We look forward to meeting and welcoming our soon-to-be sixth-grade students!

Our final PTA meeting of the school year will be held this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in room 112. Can’t make it in person? Please join us virtually at this link. 

This week's Friday Fun Day theme will be “dress as your favorite movie character.” Let's show our school spirit and represent our favorite movie character!  We look forward to celebrating each Friday in a different way to add a little fun to our day and show our school spirit.

The June edition of our school newsletter “The Hawk’s Nest” is available, and you can read it here. Paper copies also were sent home with fourth-quarter interim reports.

Field trip dates for students were included in the newsletter and are listed below. All three grades will be participating in a two-hour scenic boat ride up the Hudson River via the Dutch Apple Cruise. Students on the A team will attend the first scheduled trip for their grade level, while students on the B team will attend the field trip on the second date listed. Permission slips were sent home last week. The field trip is free to all students and includes a snack and drink. Students are encouraged to bring extra spending cash if they wish to purchase additional food items. Students must return a signed permission form to participate in this event. 

Families of eighth-graders: If you missed Albany High School's Spring Open House last week, please take a look at Principal Jodi Commerford's presentation from the event. It provides important information for soon-to-be freshmen and their families!

As a final note, Hackett Middle School continues its Fire Drill Emergency Response Procedures. Holding practice fire drills, as well as lockdown drills, is crucial to our overall emergency planning.  

Enjoy your week!

... and that was the week that was!

Now for our 'Don't Snooze and Lose News' 

  • The Living Environment Regents will take place on Tuesday, June 10.
  • Field trips for seventh-graders will take place on Thursday, June 12 and Friday, June 13.
  • The last day of our Extended Day Program is Friday, June 13. Questions? Email Ms. Lewis at dlewis2@albany.k12.ny.us.
  • Field trips for sixth-graders will take place on Monday, June 16 and Tuesday, June 17.
  • The Algebra Regents will take place on Wednesday, June 18.
  • There will be no school on Thursday, June 19 as we celebrate Juneteenth.
  • Field trips for eighth-graders will take place on Monday, June 23 and Tuesday, June 24.
  • Thursday, June 26 will be the last day of the 2024-25 school year. We will have a full day of school, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • A reminder that speed cameras are up and running on Delaware Avenue and many other school zones throughout Albany. Fines of $50 are being imposed on drivers exceeding the 20-mph school zone speed limit. Please drive safely and avoid these fines by being mindful of the school zones on your daily route.
  • There are 17 schools days left!

Class of 2025 events

  • Grade 8 Dance – Friday, June 20, 6-9 p.m.
  • Mandatory Grade 8 Moving Up rehearsals. 
    • Wednesday, June 25, periods 1-4
    • Thursday, June 26, periods 1-4
  • Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony – Friday, June 27, 9 a.m.

Important reminders

Hackett corner quotes

"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." – Vince Lombardi